Meadow Lake is located in west-central Saskatchewan, and is home to somewhere around 5,000 people. It is Saskatchewan's most northerly town and is the regional shopping centre and business services centre of northwest Saskatchewan. Much of its industry is based on what nature provides - fish, fur, pulpwood, and agriculture.

The countryside around Meadow Lake is filled with scenic parkland and small lakes. There are a number of summer resorts nearby the town. Meadow Lake Provincial Park covers 1,600 square km (620 sq. mi.) of aspen, birch, and pine forest through which the Waterhen River flows and links over two dozen lakes. Fishing for Northern pike, walleye, perch, and whitefish is a popular Park activity. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy spotting 130 bird species and a wide variety of animals including elk, moose, deer, black bear, wolves, coyotes, otters, and beavers.

Summer hiking trails ranging from 1.6 km (1.0 mi.) to 11 km (6.8 mi.) turn into winter cross country skiing trails, as summer swimming beaches and boat launches neighbour winter ice fishing locations. Sports fans will enjoy the tennis courts and baseball diamonds. Visitors are offered a variety of overnight spots at the more than 900 campsites which can be found in the park, with a few hundred at nearby private resorts. In contrast to the park's peacefulness, to the north of Meadow Lake the RCAF is creating a testing and bombing ground.